Pro Football|Falcons’ Blowout of Buccaneers Features a Record Return by Devin Hester

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Falcons’ Blowout of Buccaneers Features a Record Return by Devin Hester

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Devin Hester en route to his N.F.L.-record 20th career return touchdown, after a Tampa Bay punt. He also ran for a 20-yard score.CreditCreditJohn Bazemore/Associated Press

By The Associated Press

Sept. 19, 2014

Devin Hester high-stepped to an N.F.L. record with his 20th career return touchdown, Julio Jones caught two scoring passes and the Atlanta Falcons beat the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 56-14, on Thursday night.

Atlanta scored all of its points in the first three quarters. Tampa Bay did not put up a point until midway through the fourth.

Hester ran back a punt 62 yards down the left side midway through the second quarter to give the Falcons a seven-touchdown lead. He has 14 career punt return touchdowns, five scores on kickoffs and one on a fumble return.

The previous record was held by the Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, a former Falcon who was working the game as a television analyst. Sanders was on the video board smiling and raising his arms as the public address announcer told the Georgia Dome crowd about Hester’s achievement.

The Falcons tied a team record for largest halftime lead at 35 points. They were up, 42-7, against Tampa Bay on Jan. 1, 2012.

Hester, who spent the first eight years of his career with the Chicago Bears before signing as a free agent with Atlanta, copied Sanders’s renowned high step, putting his left arm up beside his helmet after he ran past punter Michael Koenen to cover the last 20 yards. Hester scored earlier in the second on a 20-yard reverse.

Jones made an acrobatic, 49-yard catch midway through the third, looking first over his left shoulder for quarterback Matt Ryan’s deep pass and then adjusting to catch the ball over his right shoulder to beat cornerback Alterraun Verner and make the score 42-0. Ryan and Jones had connected on an 8-yard score in the first quarter.

GOVERNOR BACKS GOODELL Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey is playing defense for the embattled commissioner Roger Goodell.

Christie said he strongly believed Goodell should stay in his job despite mounting criticism over his handling of a domestic violence episode involving running back Ray Rice, a Baltimore Raven at the time and a former Rutgers star.

Christie hailed Goodell as an outstanding and honest man with great integrity. The two worked together during the lead-up to last season’s Super Bowl, held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

Goodell admitted he made a mistake in the way he handled the case and should be judged on the totality of his work, Christie said.

Christie made the comments during an appearance on New Jersey 101.5 FM’s “Ask the Governor” call-in show. Some female lawmakers in the state have called on Goodell to resign.

JACKSON’S SHOULDER AILING DeSean Jackson remained unable to practice as the Washington Redskins prepared to face the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend.

Jackson, a three-time Pro Bowl receiver, is recovering from a sprained left shoulder. He wore a visor instead of a helmet to practice and sat on a stationary bike while his teammates were stretching.

“We’re going to push him a little bit more tomorrow to see where he’s at,” Coach Jay Gruden said. He added that Jackson could play a full game or perhaps just 20 to 30 plays, depending on how his shoulder feels.

Jackson has been looking forward to facing the Eagles, who released him in March. He was hurt in the first quarter of Washington’s home victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

A version of this article appears in print on , on Page B10 of the New York edition with the headline: Falcons’ Blowout of Bucs Features a Record Return by Hester. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe